Join us here at the Maritime Museum with scientists from around New Zealand taking part in the Sustainable Sea National Science Challenge. This breakfast talk series will take place in June, August & September with different speakers from the challenge expressing their research for how to care for our ocean.
In recent years, advocates for sustainable oceans have focused attention on building a sustainable ‘blue economy’, where innovation practices that promote and sustain diverse industries are based on healthy marine ecosystems.
This breakfast talk will explore how New Zealand can create value from a blue economy, Dr. Nick Lewis will speak on the New Zealand based initiatives that create economic value from sustainable marine practices and activates. While Dr. Jason Mika has been working to create a foundation for a world-leading indigenous blue economy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Bookings recommended.
Dr Nick Lewis is an economic geographer at the School of Environment at the University of Auckland. He studies the interplay of investment processes, policy and institutions in industry development. His Sustainable Seas research is investigating ways to create a blue economy in New Zealand. He has previously studied how the wine and education industries were formed.
Dr Jason Mika (Ngāi Tūhoe, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Kahungunu) is the Director of Te Au Rangahau (the Maori Business and Leadership Centre) at Massey University. His research interests are indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation, management, and organisations. His Sustainable Seas research is working to create a foundation for a world-leading indigenous blue economy in Aotearoa.
About the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge
The Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge is one of 11 National Science Challenges. It is hosted by NIWA and is a multi-disciplinary programme of research in collaboration with over 30 organisations including the Cawthron Institute. The objective of the Sustainable Seas Challenge is to enhance the utilisation of New Zealand’s marine resources within environmental and biological constraints. You can follow @Sust_seasNZ on Twitter or subscribe to the newsletter on the Sustainable Seas website.
Our sea is big – New Zealand’s marine estate, our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is 20 times larger than our land mass and the 4th largest in the world.
Our sea is valuable – New Zealand’s marine economy includes fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, oil and gas, minerals, renewable energy, shipping and transport, social enterprise, and more.
Our sea is vital – The sea is also an important part of our lifestyle and culture – for identity, food, recreation and spiritual wellbeing. 75% of New Zealanders live within 10 km of the coast, and Māori have long-standing ancestral and other connections with the sea.
